In April 2018, I began a month long bike tour in Greece I named the Labours of Hercules Bike Tour of the Peloponnese. Cycling around the Peloponnese in Greece, I based the route loosely on places mentioned in the 12 Labours of Hercules.
Cycling the Hercules Trail
The month long cycle tour in the Peloponnese of Greece was a great way to explore this part of the country. Mountains and beaches, ancient sites and lakes, the beauty of the Peloponnese of Greece is definitely best appreciated on two wheels!
During the trip, I made a vlog a day which was added to my YouTube channel, as well as creating several blog posts. This page acts as the hub to each one.
Hercules Bike Tour
Below, you'll find the information divided into two sections. The first section, covers the preparations for the bike tour in Greece and explains it in more detail. The second, provides information on a day by day basis.
If a link takes you to a blog post, the daily cycling vlog will be embedded inside. If there is no blog, the link will take you straight to a cycling vlog post from the Hercules bike tour.
The Herculean Bike Tour of the Peloponnese
Index of bike touring blog posts related to the Herculean bike tour.
Preparations:
- Introduction – In this post, I write about the concept behind the bike tour. Included are some of the key locations I will be visiting in the Peloponnese related to the 12 Labours of Hercules.
- Route – In this post, I go over the route for my Hercules bike tour of the Peloponnese. Embedded in the blog post is a video that also describes the route.
- Bike Touring Gear – A look at the bike touring gear I will be taking with me on my cycling trip around the Peloponnese. Much of this gear I have mentioned in similar bicycle touring gear lists, but this one is unique to this tour.
- The Bicycle – I'll be using the Stanforth Skyelander on the Herculean bike tour around the Peloponnese in Greece.
Bike Touring Vlogs and Blog Posts
If you have a nice cup of tea ready, you can check out the entire bike touring vlog playlist on YouTube by clicking – ** HERE **
For a day by day breakdown of the bike tour, take a look below.
- Day 1- Cycling from Athens to Corinth
- Day 2 – Cycling from Corinth to Nafplion
- Day 3 – Tiryns and Lerna
- Day 4 – Cycling from Nafplion to Stymphalia
- Day 5 – Cycling from Stymphalia to Akrata Beach
- Day 6 – Cycling from Akrata Beach to Kalavrita
- Day 7 – Cycling from Kalavrita to Olympia
- Days 8,9, and 10 – Ancient Olympia in Greece
- Day 11 – Cycling from Olympia to Gialova
- Day 12 – Cycling from Gialova to Finikounda
- Day 13 – Cycling from Finikounda to Petalidi
- Day 14 – Cycling from Petalidi Beach to Megalopoli
- Day 15 – Cycling from Megalopoli to Tripoli
- Day 16 – Cycling from Tripoli to Tolo
- Day 17 – Cycling from Tolo to Epidaurus
- Day 18 – Cycling from Epidaurus to Camping Glaros
- Day 19 – Cycling from Camping Glaros to Athens
Pin this bike tour for later
Next read: Cycling Across Europe
Article Author: Dave Briggs
Dave has cycled around much of the world, including multi-year bike touring trips such as cycling from Alaska to Argentina, and England to South Africa. Check out his reviews and tips about bike touring.
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Hi Dave,
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience and knowledge! 🙂
If I could ask for a couple more specific pointers, I’d really appreciate it. My partner and I are going cycling in the Peloponnese for two weeks in April/May:
(1) We are coming to and leaving from Patras, but are hoping that we could hop on the bus once or twice (e.g., Patras->Kalamata) so we can cover a little more ground. Can we count on buses taking our bikes (without disassembling them)?
(2) We will have our tents, but are most campgrounds even open in the spring? We’d also like to do some wild camping. I understand that it’s officially illegal, but imagine that it’s not a problem outside of high tourist season, though that’s based on a backpacking trip 20 years ago … 🙂 What is your experience?
(3) We have done a couple of trips like this before, with some moderate slopes, but we are not really hard core cyclists. Is the interior quite treacherous in terms of slopes (as well as windy roads with crazy drivers)?
(4) We are keen on a combination of wild nature, picturesque villages, history/mythology and soothing seaside. Any specific recommendations given our timeframe and starting point? 🙂
Well, that’s quite a few questions. No need to answer all of them! 🙂
Hi Cyprian,
I’ll answer these questions slightly out of order!
Campgrounds – Most open after Greek Easter. Most campgrounds in Greece are based on the coastal towns (exceptions being Mycenae).
Wild Camping – A lot of cyclists do it in Greece!
Hills – Greece isn’t flat that’s for sure! Plan routes on something like Komoot so you can avoid areas that look too challenging. Typically I prefer not to cycle over 1000 metres of total ascent in a day if i can help it.
Bus: Just called the company. They said in general yes they can take bikes, but a few things to keep in mind. Don’t try on a Friday or Sunday when it’s busier. Let them know a day in advance you want to take a bike. You might have to remove the front wheel. A lot depends on who else is traveling and how much luggage they have!
You can get in touch with them here: Ktel Buse Patras Kalamata
Roads – The Peloponnese is reasonably quiet for cycling without too much craziness.
Picturesque villages – South coast from Kalamata / Kardamyli / Aereopoli / Gythio would be lovely (challenging perhaps becuase of terrain).
Ancient Sites – A cluster to add to the route include Tiryns (at Nafplio – you must go to this town), Epidaurus, Mycenae, and Nemea.
Happy tailwinds in Greece!
Hello Dave,
Planning to bicycle tour in Greece for about 1 month. ( April 2023) I have toured in North, Central, South America as well as Europe. Self supported, mostly camping if possible. Prefer not to bring any cooking equipment this trip. I can get a direct flight to Athens from Toronto and Athens Toronto return. I am 66 years old and hope to cycle between 60 and 90 kms a day. Any suggestions for routes would be appreciated. Maybe Crete?? Open to any suggestions.
Thanks!!
Hi Louis,
I’d say from the tours I’ve done in Greece, the Peloponnese is the most enjoyable for bike touring, and there’s enough road for a month (you could also combine it with going over the bridge at Patras to Nafpaktos and then on to Delphi and finally back to Athens. The route shown on this page doesn’t include some highlights such as the Mani region which is great for cycling – very wild.
If you choose to go to Crete, you have an additional trip by ferry or flight. Crete probably isn’t quite big enough for a month of touring, unless you want to take a few days out here and there to chill on the beaches (and why not?!).
Not taking cooking gear will work fine – there are tavernas and cafes all over the place. Most official camping grounds are on the coast in Greece. Unofficial look for olive groves, although Greece is very rocky and hilly so large expanses of flat ground with grass are in very short supply!
Hi, I’m happy that I found your site. I’m 71 y-o Swedish woman and I’ll be going by ebike to Egypt for COP27. I plan to visit Greece on my way home. COP27 will take place in November. I’ll try to stay in the Middle East almost to the end of January, then cross the Western part of Turkey before I will enter Greece at the end of February or in March. I am thinking about, that Athens have had some very cold vinters, but I don’t remember during which month. Though I would appreciate to hear from you if I have to be prepared for snow. Btw I know, I cannot make all of Greece this time. I have Athens on my bucket list and will leave Greece for North Macedonia or Albania. What do you recommended for a route?
Thanks so much in advance
and kind regards
Dorothee
Hi Dorothee,
This sounds like an amazing journey you have planned, and I’d love for you to keep in touch as you progress!
Weather wise – January and February are typically coldest for Athens/Greece. Many mountain areas will have snow even until mid March.
We normally get some snow in February for a few days in Athens. March is a little unpredictable – We can have both 20 degrees and sun and then snow in the same week!
I would suggest after exiting Turkey to head towards Thessaloniki. From there, you could see if you have time to head further south in Greece, or go north to North Macedonia and Albania.
This northern part of Greece is typically the coldest though, and also there are a few ski resorts in the area operable from December to March.
Wow! What an experience. I only wish I had the time to do something similar. Good luck!
Tbh Dave I can’t wait for your trip to begin, I have only scratched the surface of the Peloponnese, I want to indulge my cravings through your videos and blogs.
I hope to do it some justice through this tour! Everything is almost packed and ready – Leave tomorrow!